2016 Toyota Prius Reviews, Pricing & Specs

From first glance, the new Prius has that same slippery-through-air silhouette, but look a bit more closely and things become rather different from the previous two generations. Up front, the headlights are, um, unique. They have some extremely strange curves and angles and really look like they haven't decided whether they're coming or going.

From the side, the Prius continues its “Kammback” profile, but with an even more raked rear slope. As a result, the Prius loses its rear quarter-windows, and the C- and D-pillars are merged into one large, blacked-out C-pillar. The Prius almost has a four-door coupe look to it, and that's enhanced by a faux rear diffuser and smoked rear half-window. While the taillights are just as wild as the headlights, it all seems to play better out back with the other design elements. That said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Toyota has been willing to push the design limits of the Prius to turn heads.

Inside, things are equally eye-opening. A large white dished area in the center console, the shifter panel, and the accent panel on the steering wheel all look like some sort of Apple product is underneath the surface trying to break through. It's a unique and odd style choice, especially since Apple’s CarPlay is not available on the Prius, to try to mimic that look.

As in past generations of the Prius, the instrument panel sits in the center of the dash. I fully detest this decision. In pursuit of looking “cool” or “different,” the instrument panel is moved to the center and instantly becomes less useful than if it were in its more conventional place. A head-up display brings some of the key information to a projection on the windshield straight ahead, but it's available only as an option on uprated trims. Given the placement of the instrument panel, this feature should be standard across the lineup.

The Prius is powered by 1.8-liter gas engine combined with two electric motor-generators. They output a net 121 horsepower. The Base model stores the electrical power in a nickel-metal-hydride battery, like the one in previous models. But every other trim gets a new, more compact lithium-ion battery pack. You shift it into gear using a strange little joystick. Left and up is Reverse. Just left is Neutral, left and down is Drive, and there’s a separate button for Park.

With luck you’ll get used to the shifter, but like the instrument panel, the Prius just has to play different. But once it's moving, the Prius drives surprisingly well. Step on the gas and go—pickup is pretty decent, and it corners well, too.

On the other hand, the Prius falls short on braking feel. It’s hard to say exactly what they feel like, but definitely not normal brakes; their distinctive feel likely has to do with the regenerative braking system, which helps save gas.

Fuel economy for the 2016 Toyota Prius is estimated at 54 mpg city/50 highway/52 combined. The Prius Two has an Eco sub-trim that gets even better estimates: 58/53/56.

Despite the unique look of the center console and shifter, the Prius is ergonomically quite sound. There are plenty of cupholders, compartments, and places for all your daily gear. In that Apple-inspired center console, there's a small area that might at first look just like a place for your wallet and keys, but it's actually a wireless charging pad for properly equipped Android phones. (There are also attachments to equip iPhones with wireless-charging capability.)

The curvy silhouette of the Prius results in low overhangs for the second-row doors. Taller occupants will need to lower their head a little more than usual to avoid smacking it while entering. Once in the back seat, however, there's plenty of head- and legroom, even for taller drivers. Front and rear seats are comfortable, even for longer drives.

Behind the second row, the rear cargo area has 24.6 cubic feet of cargo space in base form. The Prius Two Eco, Prius Four, and Four Touring have a spare tire kit instead of a spare, which brings cargo space up to 27.4 cubic feet. With the rear seat down, the Prius offers an impressive 65.5 cubic feet of cargo space. That’s more than the Mazda3 hatchback, Volkswagen Golf, and even the cargo-master that is the Honda Fit.

Despite its unfortunate placement in the center of the dash, the instrument panel provides a wealth of information and allows you to cycle through several menus chronicling fuel consumption as well as a live powertrain-status display. It’s rather fascinating to observe the many different ways that the components of the powertrain work together.

The Prius Two and Two Eco come with the Entune Media Bundle, featuring a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, 6 speakers with an AM/FM/CD player, USB 2.0 input, aux audio jack, reversing camera, Bluetooth voice activation, and the ability to integrate with Siri Eyes Free.

Move up to the Three, Three Touring, Four, or Four Touring and you'll get a 7-inch touchscreen, a 3-month trial of XM satellite radio, the Entune app suite, a navigation system, and HD predictive traffic and Doppler weather overlay.

Every Prius comes with Toyota’s Star Safety System, which includes enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, an antilock brake system with electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, and Smart Stop Technology. This is added to the advanced front- and side-impact airbags as part of a comprehensive suite of standard safety features.

The Prius Four also comes standard with some high-level safety technology, including Pre-Collision Avoidance with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, automatic high-beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. The Prius Four and Four Touring also come with a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

The trim lineup for the Prius includes the Two, Two Eco, Three, Three Touring, Four, and Four Touring. Base MSRP for the 2016 Toyota Prius Two is $24,200. A Three Trim starts at $26,250. Our Four test model starts at $28,650, and a range-topping Four Touring will set you back an even $30,000.

Our test car costs about the same as a Ford C-Max Hybrid and a Toyota Camry Hybrid SE. And it costs thousands less than a similarly equipped Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium FWD. The Prius will always have its fans, and its pricing is low enough to bring new recruits into the clan.

The pricing is competitive enough and the aesthetic and features are attractive enough to both retain the Prius faithful, and more importantly, attract a new crop of owners. Does it shatter expectations? Not really, but responsive handling and surprisingly quick pickup are pleasant surprises. If you enjoy saving fuel, don’t mind the unorthodox headlights, and want a daily driver with solid ergonomics and impressive cargo space, the 2016 Toyota Prius meets every expectation of the franchise. For us, that’s more than enough.